An LMS Adaptive Array for Multipath Fading Reduction

Multipath fading often poses a serious hindrance in radiocommunication. The application of a least-mean-square (LMS)adaptive array to the problem of multipath fading reduction is discussed. However, it is known that multipath components are in general correlated with one another. We examine the effect of the correlation on the performance of the LMS adaptive array. When the correlation coefficient does not equal or approximate 1, the LMS adaptive array suppresses the multipath signals significantly by nulling. On the other hand, when the correlation coefficient nearly equals 1, the LMS adaptive array prevents the output signalpower from decreasing. Therefore, the LMS adaptive array mayreduce the multipath fading effectively for any correlation coefficient value. A reference signal in the LMS adaptive array is also discussed. It is shown that synchronization in the referencesignal generation must be extremely accurate. Moreover, aprocessor configuration is proposed which may generate thereference signal with the required accuracy.     

Interference in Frequency-Locked Doppler Tracking Loops

The effects of interference on frequency-locked Doppler tracking loops are investigated. Conditions for jump from locking on the desired signal to locking on the interfering signal are established. Parasitic frequency modulation of the desired signal results when the other signal interferes with it. The index of this parasitic modulation as a function of the interference-to-desired signal amplitude ratio is computed. Both critical amplitude ratio and critical parasitic modulation index at the occurrence of jump are derived. Comparing frequency-locked loops with phase-locked loops with phase-locked loops in the presence of interference shows the former performs better for most cases of practical importance in Doppler tracking systems.     

The Psi-Angle Error Equation in Strapdown Inertial Navigation Systems

A detailed development is presented of the psi-angle vector differential equation as applied to the error analysis of strapdown inertial navigation systems. The coordinate systems involved and the psi misalignment vector are clearly defined. It is proven that apart from a sign change the psi-angle differential equation in the error analysis of strapdown inertial navigation systems is identical to the one used in conventional gimbaled inertial navigation systems.     

Direction finding with a four-element Adcock-Butler matrix antennaarray

The conventional analog Adcock-Butler matrix (ABM) antenna array direction finder suffers from systemic errors, component matching problems, and bandwidth limitations. Three digital bearing estimators are developed as candidates to replace the analog signal processing portion of the ABM. Using the same antenna array, they perform all signal processing in the frequency domain, thereby benefitting from the computational efficiency of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm. The first estimator requires two analog-to-digital converters (A-D) and three antenna elements. It multiplies the difference between the discrete Fourier transforms (DFTs) of the output signals from two antenna elements with that from a third antenna element. At each frequency component, the phase of this product is a function of the bearing. A weighted least squares (LS) fit through all the phase components then gives a bearing estimate. The second estimator is similar to the first but uses three A-D and all four antenna elements. The output signal from the additional antenna element provides an independent estimate of the weights for the LS fit, giving an improvement in accuracy. The third estimator applies the physical constraint existing between the time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) of a signal intercepted by two perpendicular sets of antenna elements. This yields a better estimator than simple averaging of the bearing from each set of antenna elements. The simulation studies used sinusoids and broadband signals to corroborate the theoretical treatment and demonstrate the accuracy achievable with these estimators. All three direction finders have superior performance in comparison with the analog ABM     

IMM estimator with out-of-sequence measurements

In multisensor tracking systems that operate in a centralized information processing architecture, measurements from the same target obtained by different sensors can arrive at the processing center out of sequence. In order to avoid either a delay in the output or the need for reordering and reprocessing an entire sequence of measurements, such measurements have to be processed as out-of-sequence measurements (OOSMs). Recent work developed procedures for incorporating OOSMs into a Kalman filter (KF). Since the state of the art tracker for real (maneuvering) targets is the interacting multiple model (IMM) estimator, the algorithm for incorporating OOSMs into an IMM estimator is presented here. Both data association and estimation are considered. Simulation results are presented for two realistic problems using measurements from two airborne GMTI sensors. It is shown that the proposed algorithm for incorporating OOSMs into an IMM estimator yields practically the same performance as the reordering and in-sequence reprocessing of the measurements. Also, it is shown how the range rate from a GMTI sensor can be used as a linear velocity measurement in the tracking filter.     

Cosmological variability of fundamental physical constants

Gamow was one of the pioneers who studied the possible variability of fundamental physical constants. Some versions of modern Grand Unification theories do predict such variability. The paper is concerned with three of the constants: the fine-structure constant , the ratio of the proton massm _p to the electron massm _e, and the ratio of the neutron massm _n tom _e. It is shown on the basis of the quasar spectra analysis, that all the three constants revealed no statistically significant variation over the last 90% of the life time of the Universe. At the 2 significance level, the following upper bounds are obtained for the epoch corresponding to the cosmological redshiftsz2–3: /<1.5×10^–3, m _p/m _p<2×10^–3, and m/m<3×10^–4, where x is a possible deviation of a quantityx from its present value,m=m _p+m _n, and the nucleon masses are in units ofm _e. (According to new observational data which became known most recently, m _p/m _p<2×10^–4) In addition a possible anisotropy of the high-redshift fine splitting over the celestial sphere is checked. Within the relative statistical error 3 < 1% the values of turned out to be the same in various quadrants of the celestial sphere, which corresponds to their equality in causally disconnected areas. However, at the 2 level a tentative anisotropy of estimated / values is found in directions that approximately coincide with the direction of the relic microwave background anisotropy.The revealed constraints serve as criteria for selection of those theoretical models which predict variation of ,m _p orm _n with the cosmological time.     

Attitude Determination from Vector Observations: Quaternion Estimation

Two recursive estimation algorithms, which use pairs of measured vectors to yield minimum variance estimates of the quaternion of rotation, are presented. The nonlinear relations between the direction cosine matrix and the quaternion are linearized, and a variant of the extended Kalman filter is used to estimate the difference between the quaternion and its estimate. With each measurement this estimate is updated and added to the whole quaternion estimate. This operation constitutes a full state reset in the estimation process. Filter tuning is needed to obtain a converging filter. The second algorithm presented uses the normality property of the quaternion of rotation to obtain, in a straightforward design, a filter which converges, with a smaller error, to a normal quaternion. This algorithm changes the state but not the covariance computation of the original algorithm and implies only a partial reset. Results of Monte-Carlo simulation runs are presented which demonstrate the superiority of the normalized quaternion.     

Navigation Computation in Terrestrial Strapdown Inertial Navigation Systems

The problem of computing the translational velocity and position relative to earth, which has to be solved by the processor of a strapdown inertial navigation system is discussed. Several approaches are briefly examined with consideration given to the form in which the sensor data are generated and to the computational burden involved in each approach. A computational scheme is finally selected in which the computation is divided into three rate levels. The differential equations of this scheme are developed and the assumptions on which the development is founded are stated. Three variants of the basic scheme are presented, each based on a different level of simplifying assumptions. The main purpose of this work is to develop the differential equations to be solved at each stage of the computation, rather than the numerical implementation of the solution. This work supplies the theoretical background for some of the numerical methods which are now being used.     

Element exchange in a water- and gas-closed biological Life Support System.

Liquid human wastes and household water used for nutrition of wheat made possible to realize 24% closure for the mineral exchange in an experiment with a 2-component version of "Bios-3" life support system (LSS) Input-output balances of revealed, that elements (primarily trace elements) within the system. The structural materials (steel, titanium), expanded clay aggregate, and catalytic furnace catalysts. By the end of experiment, the permanent nutrient solution, plants, and the human diet gradually built up Ni, Cr, Al, Fe, V, Zn, Cu, and Mo. Thorough selection and pretreatment of materials can substantially reduce this accumulation. To enhance closure of the mineral exchange involves processing of human-metabolic wastes and inedible biomes inside LSS. An efficient method to oxidize wastes by hydrogen peroxide icon a quartz reactor at the temperature of 80 degrees C controlled electromagnetic field is proposed.     

Interaction of physical-chemical and biological regeneration processes in ecological Life Support Systems.

Catalytic combustion of inedible biomass of plants in ecological Life Support Systems (LSS) gives rise to gaseous oxides (CO2, NO2, SO2, etc.). Some of them are toxic for plants suppressing their photosynthesis and productivity. Experiments with "Bios-3" experimental LSS demonstrate that a decrease of photosynthetic productivity in a system with straw incineration can jeopardize its steady operation. Analysis of the situation by a mathematical model taking into account absorption parameters of the system in terms of toxic elements makes it possible to formulate requirements for the structure and operation of LSS to provide for its stability. Avenues for further investigation of the problem of toxic stability of LSS are proposed.